Uber Tries to Limit Size in Class-Action Lawsuit with New Driver Contract

12.11.15

Todd Scherwin was quoted in Los Angeles Times on December 11, 2015. The article “Uber Tries to Limit Size in Class-action Lawsuit with New Driver Contract” discussed how this past Friday, Uber issued a new driver partner agreement to Uber drivers containing a revised arbitration clause that would exclude anyone who signs it from participating in current or future class-action lawsuits.

According to Todd, the wording in the new contract clearly tries to stop current and future Uber drivers from participating in class action lawsuits.

“From Uber’s perspective, if it limits [the size of the class] at all — say it knocks out 1,000 people, or 5,000 people, or 10,000 people — it will be worth it.”

This kind of action is uncommon in class actions, Todd said, but it does happen. And in nonlegal parlance, Uber’s move isn’t as sneaky as it sounds.

“The section about the arbitration provision and the ongoing lawsuits is big and bold and underlined, so I don’t think there’s a lot of sneakiness to it,” he said. “If that part had been hidden, or if there wasn’t an opt-out provision, then you’d say this is their way to try to hide it.”

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